Last updated August 2026 · By Nick Hall, .308 Winchester shooter who has run hunting and target rifles across every budget tier
Affiliate Disclaimer: We earn a small part of the sale price when you buy through our links. You won’t pay anything extra and your purchase helps support the site. Click here for more details.
- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Quick Answer: The Tikka T3x is the best .308 rifle you can buy in 2026 for hunters and shooters who want a single rifle that does everything well. It is sub-MOA out of the box, weighs under 7 pounds, and the action is smoother than rifles costing twice as much.
The best budget .308 is the Savage Axis II at around $400, an honest deer rifle with a decent factory trigger. The best semi-auto .308 is the Springfield M1A SOCOM for shooters who want a battle rifle.
The most common mistake .308 buyers make is sighting in with cheap range ammo and then hunting with premium hunting loads, since the point of impact often shifts 2-4 inches at 100 yards between bullet weights. Always confirm zero with your hunting load. Every rifle on this list was shot for groups at 100 yards before ranking.
Torn between a .308 AR-10 and a 5.56 AR-15? Our AR-15 vs AR-10 comparison lays out the trade-offs.
Wondering how the .308 stacks up against the classic .30-06? See our .308 vs .30-06 breakdown.
How we tested: Every pick here was run through our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun. If we haven't shot it, we don't recommend it.
The Winners at a Glance
| Pick | Best For | Street Price | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tikka T3x | Best overall | $900–$1,009 | Price ↓ |
| Smith & Wesson M&P10 | Big-brand AR-10 | $1,511 | Price ↓ |
| Springfield M1A SOCOM | Classic battle rifle | $1,775–$1,930 | Price ↓ |
| Savage Axis II | Best budget bolt gun | $458–$980 | Price ↓ |
| Ruger American Rifle | Best value hunter | $565–$650 | Price ↓ |
| Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon Speed | Best western hunter | $770–$1,120 | Price ↓ |
| Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro | Premium precision bolt | Out of stock | Price ↓ |
| Remington 700 ADL | Most aftermarket support | $567 | Price ↓ |
| Palmetto State Armory Gen3 PA10 | Cheapest AR-10 | Out of stock | Price ↓ |
| Mossberg Patriot | Cheapest way in | $368–$434 | Price ↓ |
| Wilson Combat .308 | Premium AR-10 | $2,760–$3,495 | Price ↓ |
| Henry Long Ranger | Best lever action | $950–$1,675 | Price ↓ |
| Ruger Precision Rifle | Best long-range chassis | Out of stock | Price ↓ |
| Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve | Lightest mountain rifle | $1,055 | Price ↓ |
The 308 Winchester rifle is America’s favorite hunting round and we love taking it to war as well. Snipers use it, foot soldiers too. And hunters pretty much rely on 308 rifles for anything bigger than small game.
The best 308 rifle can handle anything from humane deer hunting through to America’s biggest game.
It has served in the hands of military snipers. It has taken down hundreds of thousands of animals of all shapes and sizes around the world and it has achieved success in the US through to India.
Here are the best 308 rifles on sale in 2026.
Table of Contents
1. Tikka T3x
- Caliber: 308 Winchester
- Barrel length: 22.4 inch
- Weight: 5.9lb
For the full hands-on, see our full Tikka T3x Lite review.
You can get a Tikka bolt action rifle in a number of different trims, from a chassis rifle through to a lightweight hunting rifle that is kind of our favorite.
The weight is the truly remarkable part with this 22.4 inch stainless steel barrel. The T3x synthetic stock and recoil pad with a low-angled grip is a classic approach executed to near perfection. And it all ensures this is a lightweight rifle when they’re done.
Tikka is part of the same Beretta Holding Groups as Finnish firearms icons Sako, which makes some of the finest shooters in the world and this bolt action rifle is one of the best.
Long distance shooters actually sent me angry emails to overthrow the result of the Best Sniper Rifles on the market in 2024 result and install the TAC-A1 that gets an honorary mention here too. It’s in a different price range, though.
That technology has trickled down to the Tikka T3x Superlite to create one of the best 308 rifles. The Tikka is great value, it’s super light and seriously accurate.
2. Smith & Wesson M&P10
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Total Length: 34 inch
- Capacity: 20+1
- Weight: 8lb
The semi automatic S&W is a solid compromise of price, weight, ease of use and bone-chilling accuracy.
It’s an AR-10 platform that has been slimmed down to the point that you can shoulder it all day. It comes with a mid-length gas system, 5R rifling and a 1:10 twist.
You also get a Picatinny rail up top and a whole host of finishing touches from the legendary S&W Performance Center.
This isn’t a full Performance Center firearm, which is why it comes in at a price tag that we think is pretty phenomenal in this company.
It’s essentially a battlefield workhorse with a detachable box magazine that you can take deer hunting.
3. Springfield M1A SOCOM
- Price: 1,9999.99
- Barrel: 16 inch barrel
- Total: 37.25 inch
- Weight: 8.8lb
- Magazine: 10+1
Yes it looks like the love child of an M1 Garand and an AR-15. That’s exactly the aesthetic the company was going for with this particular matte black synthetic variant of the almighty Springfield M1A semi auto rifle.
Would SOCOM take this Springfield M1A as a battle rifle? Well no, of course they wouldn’t. Really it’s a futuristic mash-up of the 308 Win rifles of yesteryear and today’s AR-15 semi auto rifles.
It’s a steampunk rifle, not a tactical rifle. But it has character by the bucketful and you have to admit you want one in your home gun safes. A collapsible stock, flip up iron sights, a tiny Picatinny rail and more combine to create one of the weirdest and yet best mash ups here.
Now it pays homage to the legendary M1 Garand battle rifle with a series of modern rifles that offer everything from luxury wood finishes through to this high-tech offering. In some form it deserves its place on the list of the best 308 rifles and we like this semi auto rifle.
The Springfield M1A Loaded is also a great precision rifle for long distance shooting.
4. Savage Axis II
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Weight: 6.5lb
- Capacity: 4+1
Savage Arms keeps finding itself on these lists with a simple recipe of good value firearms that shoot straight. The Savage Axis is one of the best in this price range.
Now Savage Arms makes some of the best 308 hunting rifles for big game hunting with a simple synthetic stock with molded grips in all the key areas and a recoil pad.
You get an AccuTrigger with integral trigger blade safety and a detachable box magazine. More importantly, the Savage Axis get the basics right and the button rifled barrel is supremely accurate.
5. Ruger American Rifle
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total Length: 43.25 inch
- Weight: 6.2lb
- Capacity: 3+1
The Ruger American rifle has won the favor of the American public thanks to the best deals. It doesn’t get much simpler, though, so there’s not a great deal to say here.
You can get all kinds of variants, though, including one with Magpul stock that turns this into a serious tactical sniper. Look here for a full selection of the best 308 hunting rifles, long range target shooting specialists and more.
Gun parts are readily available and you can upgrade these hunting rifles with a new barrel or trigger set pretty easily.
The Ruger American 308 Win bolt action rifle with a Vortex Crossfire scope up top is all that most of us need for a hunting rifle or basic targets.
You can get of Ruger American bolt action rifles in a range of calibers, from Rimfire ammo through to 350 Legend ammo for big game hunting.
6. Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon Speed
- Barrel: 22 inch barrel
- Total Length: 42.75 inch
- Total Weight: 6.3lb
The X-Bolt has swiftly become a legend in its own lifetime with hunters and target shooters alike.
It’s really a top rated custom rifle for big game hunting and offers a great compromise of portability, accuracy and reliability.
The 22 inch barrel with integral muzzle brake gets a Cerakote finish, as does the bolt. That helps immensely with a smooth action and the bolt speed in this bolt gun.
And the composite stock and recoil pad have proven themselves in the field time and again, as the basis of Browning’s most popular rifle. As a 308 Winchester rifle, it was always going to be a winner.
Typically you can buy the Browning X-Bolt in a range of calibers and configurations. There’s a longer barrel, which is inevitably significantly heavier but makes for a popular hunting rifle.
You can also get shorter, lightweight rifles if that’s your priority when you’re hunting big game.
7. Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro 308
- Price: $2.533.99
- Barrel: 16
- Weight:10.8b
The Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro is a stunning 308 Win bolt action rifle that was built to beat a custom rifle and yet come in under the price limit in the PRS Production Class.
So if you want to start competition shooting, then this is an exellent option. Obviously there’s an adjustable length of pull, cheek riser, adjustable trigger pull and every component is high quality. That pays off with the bolt speed, smooth action and and super fast cycling, as well as accuracy.
Basically if you can’t hit five shot groups in an inch from 50 yards, you’re totally the issue.
The suppressor ready Delta 5 Pro is expensive, but then it’s a great rifle for long range target shooting. And if you need something cheaper, without the high end Cerakote finish, then check out the Sig Sauer Cross bolt gun.
Now you could also look at the Daniel Defense DD5 AR-10, which is an incredible gun for home defense and is beyond military grade hardware. So remember the Daniel Defense DD5 as well when you buy a gun online.
8. Remington 700 ADL
- Barrel: 26 inch
- Rifle Length: 36.25 inch
- Weight: 8.5lb
- Capacity: 4+1
The Remington Model 700 short action is the best-selling 308 Win bolt action rifle of all time and has been in production for more than 50 years.
You can get a version with a much shorter barrel or a full military chassis, but the Remington 700 ADL comes with a composite stock and the Remington X-Mark Pro trigger.
This comes with the legendary Remington Three Rings of Steel completely enclosing the cartridge case head. That provides serious strength, and durability in this popular hunting rifle.
It also gets the classic rotary magazine, a threaded barrel for muzzle brakes and a 60 degree bolt lift you can use with a scope and gloves.
You can get any flavor of Remington 700 bolt gun you want, up to a 26 inch target champion with the military chassis that is an entirely different animal.
You can spend thousands on a custom Remington 700 short action rifle with a more refined and suppressor ready cold hammer forged barrel. But these are some of the best hunting rifles in a variety of specs.
9. Palmetto State Armory Gen3 PA10
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Rifle Length: 36 inch
- Weight: 8lb
- Capacity: 20+1
We’re always going to have the Palmetto State Armory debate and they divide people like politics, but I’m just gonna say this.
If this spec sheet was attached to a $3,000 semi automatic rifle, people would be queuing round the block to throw the money at them.
This is the range-topping Palmetto State Armory Gen3 semi auto rifles with the 416R stainless steel barrel. The lower and upper receivers are forged 7075-T6 Aluminum and you can upgrade pretty much all the gun parts over time.
The bolt carrier group is Nitride-coated 8620 steel and the bolt is 9310 with more Nitride coating, while the two-stage trigger is coated in Nickel Teflon. Apart from a billet lower receiver, which would be a pipe dream at this price point, a Crack pipe, the spec is pretty hot.
PSA guns are best sellers for a reason and customers tend to go back for more. So if you’re hunting big game or protecting your home, this is an excellent choice.
10. Mossberg Patriot
- Barrel: 22 inch
- Rifle Length: 42.75 inch
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight: 7lb
There are some truly clever guns on this list that all have one thing in common. One way or another, the designers have engineered around the inherent limitations of the round.
Mossberg simply embraces them, doesn’t try to get too smart and the end result is a light, cheap 308 rifle that might be the best budget rifle on the market.
That’s all some people want in their centerfire rifles. The Mossberg Patriot 308 Win does everything they need in a hunting rifle. And that’s why these are best sellers.
The great thing about this gun is that it’s so cheap you could effectively pair it with a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle for extreme shooting. You could buy one of each of those hunting rifles and still have a huge pile of change left over if you go this route.
Two Rifles to Cover Your Needs
But if it was my money sat there on the table and I could either have the best 308 Win or a combo deal, I would take the Mossberg and then place my order for a proper sniper rifle.
This is a 7lb 308 Win bolt action rifle and it’s one of the few on this list that you could comfortably shoulder all day. It’s a simple rifle with a rotary magazine, that won’t give you any real surprises.
And it is really limited to about 500 yards, unless you’re the best long range shooting specialist.
Stay in its comfort zone, though, and these will serve you well and keep this hard hitting round on target. What more can you really ask from a gun that costs a fraction of its supposed betters here?
11. Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter
- Barrel: 16 inch
- Rifle length: 32.5-37.75 inch
- Weight: 8lb
Wilson Combat are perennial winners with semi auto rifles. But this 308 Win rifle class is a hard one indeed and even this company can’t expect a walk in the park here.
This is a relatively lightweight rifle at 8lb and combines the Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter match grade threaded and fluted barrel with the lightweight receiver set. Of course, that’s machined from billet and this semi automatic rifle comes with a mid-length gas system.
The Ranger barrel is Wilson Combat’s lightest profile barrel that still retains match accuracy as it gets hot. It’s high price, high spec. But you know that with these top rated semi automatic rifles.
That’s a nice touch at the shooting range, and one of the many reasons why some people won’t entrust their personal defense to any other brand. Wilson Combat can become an expensive addiction, but there are more expensive options here for 308 rifles.
You could even argue that the Wilson Combat is value for money.
12. Henry Long Ranger
- Barrel: 20 inch
- Total: 32.5-37.75 inch
- Weight: 7.3lb
The top rated Henry Long Ranger 308 win rifle is something different, even though it’s technically not the best rifle here.
It’s a lever action rifle, which is just fun to have in your life. And it’s a perfectly competent deer hunting rifle, too, but mainly they’re just fun lever action rifles for shits and giggles. Don’t be thinking about five shot groups with this one.
That is enough to make Henry rifles best sellers in almost every caliber.
You could opt for the Henry Single Shot Rifle, too, if you want hunting rifles that are even weirder than a lever gun.
13. Ruger Precision Rifle
- Barrel: 16.5 inch
- Weight: 7.3lb
The Ruger Precision rifle is a legend and a cheap way into serious distance shooting.
Essentially this is the best budget precision rifle aimed at sport shooters who want affordable & accurate long range shooting.
You get an almost infinitely adjustable stock, adjustable trigger, a cold hammer forged barrel with a threaded muzzle and a 1000-yard gun in the right hands. Of course you can spend a lot more money on a little more precision and engineering excellence.
But the Ruger Precision is most of the rifle, for a fraction of the cash.
14. Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve
The Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve is a lightweight, hard hitting hunting rifle that is surprisingly affordable for a Kimber.
You get a fiber reinforced polymer stock, a stainless steel barrel and a range of finishes from Black through to digital camo. And that’s about it.
The Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve gets a Kimber 84M action, a simple polymer stock and not much else. It is designed for mountain hunts and the outdoor life.
Honorable Mentions
With a composite stock, the lightweight carbon fiber stock Springfield Waypoint is a sniper rifle and a high-quality hunting rifle. It’s seriously good for long range shooting and they come with carbon fiber barrels, too.
Now we’ve got lots of other bolt action rifles on this list, but on another day the Springfield Waypoint would have made the cut.
We could have included the Nosler 21 and Winchester XPR as well. But we have to make choices here, so if you love the Nosler 21 and WInchester XPR, we get you.
Best places to buy .308 Winchester Ammo
If you buy ammo at your local gun store, wow you are losing money…
Try these direct links to the 308 ammo section of our favorite online gun stores. See how much you can save when you buy ammo in bulk for your rifle or concealed carry pistol, especially if you need to stock up on ammo in a crisis.
- Firearms Depot – Best selling 308 Winchester ammunition in stock. Buy ammo online & hunting gear, from a 308 through to a 9mm concealed carry.
- Sportsman’s Guide – Wide variety of 308 Win ammo. Buy in bulk.
- Lucky Gunner – Deals on ammo, including 308 Win for hunting big game and deer hunting.
- USA Gun Shop – The Best 308 ammo for hunting, self defense and the range
Related: For complete precision rifle picks, see the best sniper rifles you can actually buy.
Scopes vs Red Dot Sights for an AR-10
The best 308 hunting rifles on this list feel right with scopes, but you might be happier with red dot sights on your AR-10 upper receiver. simple magnifier turns the system into a long range optic and you don’t have to get stuck with scopes.
See a wide variety, organize the price low to high, and buy yours here at Palmetto State Armory.
Check out micro red dots for a concealed carry too.
Would like to see a review of the Roam R-10’s in .308 Win. They state some very light weights due to use of magnesium instead of aluminum. Only videos I can find are on YouTube Texas JAGD – hog hunting channel.
He was shooting with a Roam Red River Ultralight showing a 5 pound 10 ounce weight out of the box.
We’ll try and get round to it asap. Covid has left us running like crazy to stand still. Just checking stocks and links is a full time job. But as soon as it calms down, we’ll see what we can do! I’ll add it to the job list.
I have a Henry Long Ranger in 308 and i think you might want to take a look. It’s the best brush gun I own and that includes the 30-30 and 30-06. It’s a never miss out to around 300yds for me and that’s with old eyes.
I own a Sig 716 G2 and was surprised it didn’t even crack the list :-/
I’m looking for a 308 rifle for hunting. What are some good ones to buy?
For a quick get you started rifle then the Mossberg or Remington are great choices. Simple bolt action rifles are just easy and do what they’re supposed to at the critical moment. So yeah to get going hunting with a 308, I’d go with simplicity most days.
Great roundup of .308 rifles! I appreciate the thorough reviews and insights on each one. It’s really helpful for choosing my next rifle. Looking forward to more updates in the future!
Great roundup of .308 rifles! I appreciate the detailed comparisons and insights on each model. It really helps in making an informed decision for both hunting and target shooting. Can’t wait to see which one I’ll end up picking!
Great roundup! I appreciate the detailed analysis of each rifle and the pros and cons listed. The variety in options really gives a solid view for anyone considering a .308 rifle. Excited to see which ones make the top list for 2024!
Great rundown of the top .308 rifles for 2024! I appreciate the detailed reviews and comparisons. It really helps in making an informed choice. Looking forward to seeing which ones stand out in the field!
Great insights! I found your selection of .308 rifles really impressive. It’s great to see options for different budgets and needs. I’m particularly interested in how the Ruger American stacks up against the others for long-range accuracy. Thanks for the thorough analysis!
Great roundup! I’m particularly interested in the versatility of the Ruger AR-10. It seems like a solid choice for both long-range shooting and hunting. Has anyone had any experience with its accuracy at longer distances?
Great roundup of .308 rifles! It’s helpful to see comparisons in features and pricing. Looking into a few of these for my next purchase!
Great list! I like the Ruger and the Springfield models you’ve highlighted. It’s helpful to have such detailed comparisons in one place. Looking forward to trying out some of these rifles!
It’s so helpful to see the pros and cons laid out, especially for someone looking to invest in a .308 rifle for the first time. Any particular picks for long-distance accuracy?